Transgender Education for Faith Communities

Sunday, March 24, 2019, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

On March 24th after worship, we welcome Jordan Decker and the Rev Dr. Janie Spahr.

Jordan Decker is a nationally and internationally known speaker and educator on TransYouth Suicide prevention and responsible for developing Trans HeartLine, a non-profit organization that educates and advocates for transgender humans in faith communities. Rev Dr. Janie Spahr created the Spahr Project to continue educating the church on the intersectionality of racism, sexism, heterosexism, ageism, as we move forward to advocate for justice and love.

Creating safe and caring places for transgender people and their families in both church and society is one of the most pressing challenges and opportunities for the Christian faith, community life and church growth today. What does it mean to be transgender, cisgender, or gender fluid? What might it be like to have the experience of feeling as though God doesn’t love you because you feel you were born “wrong.” Come gain insights, language, and understandings. Invite neighbors, family, and friends.

During Worship that Sunday Janie Spahr will bring The Word as we worship God. I look forward to welcoming Janie back to the St Luke sanctuary.

Rev Dr. Janie Adams Spahr was ordained in 1974 as a Presbyterian Minister in Pittsburgh, Pa. She has served several churches and after coming out as a lesbian founded with a host of friends & family Spectrum Center for LGBT Concerns in Marin County now called the Spahr Center. She has been in 3. Presbyterian church trials for marrying many of her LGBT friends as well as rejected to serve as Co-Pastor at the Downtown Presbyterian Church in Rochester, New York. Following a No to serve, the Downtown Church invited her to become their evangelist where they began the national organization That All May Freely Serve. Janie, Allies, and friends from that church traveled across the country preaching and teaching, creating regional partnerships to educate and advocate for ordination and the right to marry for over 17 years.

The Center of Innovation in ministry as San Francisco Theological Seminary has created the Spahr Project to continue educating the church on the intersectionality of racism, sexism, heterosexism, ageism, as we move forward to advocate for justice and love.

Janie is a mother of two sons Jim and Chet, daughters in law. Ronda and Teresa and a grandmother of a granddaughter Riley Susanna Spahr14 and grandson Elliott Adams Spahr 7. She is a twin of Joan Adams Fenton and former partner of James Richardson Spahr who loved her into becoming herself. She is best friends with Jim and his wife Jackie. Janie performed their wedding 30 years ago and continue to be a close family.

Jordan Decker is a nationally and internationally known speaker and educator on TransYouth Suicide prevention. His idea of living a private life was cut short when bans on Transgender peoples started coming from Washington. Having known the depths of bullying and suicidal ideation, knowing the “trickle down” effect on children, understanding the micro-aggressions in laws written against specific peoples, and learning that 57% of trans-youth will attempt suicide, Jordan stepped into the spotlight and out the closet once again! His current work encompasses the development of Trans HeartLine, a non-profit organization that educates and advocates for transgender and gender non-conforming humans in Faith communities as well as the development of post-operation recovery homes for transitioning persons.

About Our Church

We are a community of people following the teachings of Jesus Christ built on God’s foundational love and grace. Our hope is to bring the relevance of the Church into people’s lives as we practice those teachings through service, sharing, commitment and prayer.